Chair



1957 A. P. KRIKORIAN 2,801,675

CHAIR 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1?, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 6, 1957 A. P. KRIKORIAN CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17; 1954 INVENTOR. fgZiQzf/fihm United States Patent O P CHAIR Albert- P. Krikorian, Agawam, Mass., assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application March 17, 1954, Serial No. 416,783

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a reclining article of furniture and is directed more particularly to the provision of a reclining chair consisting essentially of a chassis or base on which a seat and back rest are pivotally mounted for swinging movement relative to the base and for reclining in multipositions from an upright or sitting position. A leg restis hingedly connected to the seat adjacent the forward end thereof and is capable of swinging forwardly and Upwardly relative to the seat as the seat and back rest are moved to their reclining positions.

The. invention particularly relates to the provision of means whereby a back rest, a seat and lower leg or limb rest may be adjusted relative to a chassis or frame. between a forward upright or sitting position and a rear.- ward recumbent or reclining position.

It is. an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved construction of the type wherein a seat, a back and leg rest are readily tiltable relative to a chassis. or base between an upright sitting and an extreme reclining position and a multiplicity of intermediate positions therebetween merely by the movements of the chair occupant and further wherein a leg or foot rest is swung accordingly as the seat and back are moved relative to the chassis.

According to special features of the invention, the

mechanism for effecting the relative movements of the chair parts is so constructed as not to detract from the appearance of the chair.

Itv will be understood that the chair components may be of metal, plastic or similar material. rather than of wood, as is normal, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the. accompanying drawing, I have illustrated two complete examples of physical embodiments of the invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with certain specific. types of construction which I have devised for the physical application of the principles of the invention. It will, however, be under.- stood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in. these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

I accomplish the above by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a chair construction embodying the novel features of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is1a sectional elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the chair construction will now be described.

I have shown a chair construction which consists generally of a chassis or base or frame comprising a pair of side frames spaced apart by a transverse front wall member 12 and a transverse rear wall member 14 on 2,801,675 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 2 which may, if desired, be connected together by a lower wall member 16.

As aforesaid, these base members 10, 12, 14 and 16 may be made from wood, metal or other materials and may be suitably padded and upholstered, as desired.

A back rest member generally designated by the numeral 20 of the conventional construction consisting of a unitary panel member or a frame work of spaced parallel. side. members and a plurality of transverse connecting members therebetween. may be employed, samebeing suitably padded and upholstered, if desired. 7

For purposes of illustration and description herein, the back rest member will be shown as consisting of a unitary panel member comprising an upper back sup: porting portion 22 of the conventional design and a lower downwardly extending back support extension por tion 24 extending angularly away therefrom.

The back rest member 20 is held in pivotal relation with the. chassis or base by means of a pair of pivot or bearing members 34 which are enga-geable between op: posite'sides of the member 20 and the adjacent side frame member 10 whereby the member 20 is pivotally connected to the chassis.

If' desired, the pivot means may comprise a unitary transverse rod member which extends between and is supported by the opposite side frame members 10 and 10 whereby the back rest member 20 may be journalled therein in any conventional and well. known manner.

The seat or cushion support assembly comprises a seat member 3%! which is transversely disposed betweenthe opposite side frame members 10 and 10 and is pivoted thereto at its rearmost portion by means of pivot or bearingmembers 32 which are engageable betweena side of the seat member 30- and the adjacent side frame member 10. t p l As in the case of the pivot means for the backrest member, the. pivot means for the seat assembly may comprise a unitary transverse rod member which extends between and is supported by the opposite side frame members 10 and 10. whereby the seat member 30 may be journalled thereon in any conventional and well known manner.

A foot or leg rest member 40. is disposed forwardly of the wall member 12. On opposite sides of the mem? ber 46 and at the upper portions thereof, support members 42 are fixed thereto as by screws 44. or the like.

The upper extremity 46 of each support member 42 is oifsetrelative to the longitudinal axis of its lower extremity and extends upwardly above and away from the member 4% and is pivotally engaged with theladjacent forward portion of the seat member 30 by means of a pivot pin 48 or the like whereby the leg rest member may be moved between the positions shown in solid and dash lines in Fig. 1.

That is to say, the leg rest has a support pivotally connected to a forward portion of the seat for supporting the. leg rest downwardly and forwardly of the forward end of the seat.

An elongated rear connecting link 50 is pivoted at its rearmost extremity by a pivot member 5 2 to the lower end portion or extension 24 of the back rest member 20.

An elongated forward connecting link 60 is pivoted at its foremost extremity by a pivot 62 to the offset portion 46 of the support member 42.

Connecting the inner and adjacent end portions of; the rear and forward connecting links 50 and 60 respectively, a control link 79 is provided, one end portion thereof connecting pivotally to a forward portion of the rear link 50 by means of a pivot 72 and the other end thereof connecting pivotally to the rearward portionfof the forward link 60 by means of a pivot 74, ail toithe enclthat the rear and forward connecting links are caused to cooperate in forward and rearward movements thereof as the mechanism is operated.

Also connecting the inner and adjacent end portions of the rear and forward connecting links 50 and 60 respectivelyis a supporting link 80 which has its upper extremity pivotally engaged with the adjacent side frame member of the chassis or base as by a pivot 82 and has adepending free end portion in engagement with the links 50 and :60. v

l The "free end portion of the member 80 is pivotally engaged by means of a pivot 84 with the forward end portion of the rear connecting link member 50 and is also pivotally engaged by means of a pivot 86 with the rearward end portion of the forward connecting link 60, as shown. i It will be appreciated that whereas only one system of linkage is shown and described, a duplicate system may be employed on the opposite side of the chair structure, which systems would operate simultaneously in the well known manner." For purposes of simplification, only one such system has been herein shown and described.

The'combination of links are so connected and proportioned as to length that any motion of one point in a plane parallel to that of the link mechanism will cause another point to follow another predetermined path.

In the mechanism herein disclosed, the mechanism is free to swivel about a fixed center 82.

' When the chair mechanism is in the upright or sitting position, the lower portion 24 of the member 20 may be caused to abut a stop fixed to the member 14 in any conventional manner.

It will 'be appreciated that such a stop could be located on the side wall members 10 and 10 with equally eflicient results.

Similarly a stop member (not shown) may be provided on the Wall members'ltl and 10 so as to support the seat member 30 when the chair is in the upright or sitting position. 'As the back rest member is urged rearwardly, the lower portion 24 of the member is urged forwardly from the position shown in the solid line to the position shown in the dash line in Fig. 1.

When the chair is in the extreme reclined position, the portion 22 abuts the upper surface 14 of the rear wall member 14 as shown in dash lines.

'As the back rest swings rearwardly from the seat, the rear connecting link 50 and the forward connecting link 60 move forwardly and cooperate to swing the supporting lever 80 and the leg rest 40 forwardly and upwardly relative to the seat.

' That is, as the portion 24 of the back rest is moved forwardly, the member 50 is urged forwardly simultaneously.

Its direction of movement and the direction of movement of the member 60 as well, are guided and controlled by the members 70 and 80 pivotally connected thereto.

, The member 80, being swingable upon its fixed pivot 82, functions to support the members 50 and 60 and to control their movement in an are around the axis 82.

The links 50 and 60 and the control link 70 and supporting link 80 connecting same are so interlocked as to cause the members 50 and 60 to function together. This is due primarily to the control member 70 which connects the links 50 and 60 and controls the movement of same. Further, they being swingable in an are having an axis at 82, the tendency is for them to swing the forward part of the seat and foot rest upwardly as they move forwardly arcwise.

That is to say, the control link 70, being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the members 50 and 60, causes same to cooperate in their forward or rear movements so as to act upon the leg rest support 42 and to move the forward end thereof upwardly.

L In the modification shown in Fig. 2, ,I have shown a 4 chair construction consisting of a base or chassis comprising a pair of side frames spaced apart by a transverse front wall member 112 and a transverse rear wall member 114 which may, if desired, be connected together by a lower wall member 116.

A back rest member generally designated as consists of a unitary panel member or frame work of the conventional types and includes an upper back supporting portion 122 and a lower downwardly extending back supporting extension portion 124 extending angularly away therefrom.

The seat or cushion support assembly comprises a seat member which is transversely disposed between the opposite side frame members 110 and 110 and is pivoted thereto at its rearmost portion or area by pins or other pivot means which are engageable between a side of the member 130 and the adjacent side frame member 110.

The pivot means for the seat may comprise, if desired, a unitary transverse'rod member which extends between and is supported by the opposite side frame members 110 and 110 whereby the seat member 130 may be journalled therein in any'conventional manner. H

A foot or leg rest member is disposed forwardly of the wall member 112 and on its opposite sides, at the upper portions thereof, support members 142 are fixed thereto as by screws 144 or the like.

The upper extremity 146 of each support member 142 may be offset relative to the longitudinal axis of its lower extremity and extends upwardly above the member 140 and is pivotally engaged with the adjacent portion of the seat member 130 by means of pivot 148 or the like all to the end that the leg rest member may be moved between the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 2.

A rear link member has an upper portion 202 journalled on the member 32 and a lower portion 204 ofiset relative thereto which is fixed to the portion 124 of the backrest member 120 as by screws 206 or the like whereby the back rest member 120 is held in pivotal relation relative to the seat member 130.

A rear connecting link 150 is pivoted at its rearmost extremity by a pivot member 152 to the portion 124 of the back rest member 120.

A forward connecting link is pivoted at its foremost extremity by a pivot 162 to the offset portion 146 of the member 142.

Connecting the inner and adjacent end portions of the rear and forward connecting links 150 and 160 respectively, a control link is provided, one end portion thereof connecting pivotally to a forward portion of the rear link 150 by means of a pivot 172 and the other end thereof'connecting pivotally to the rearward portion of the forward link 160 by means of a pivot 174.

Also connecting the inner end portion of the rear and forward connecting links 50 and 60 respectively (in the manner heretofore described in the case of the form shown in Fig. l) is the supporting link having its upper extremity pivotally engaged with the adjacent side frame member 110 as by a pin or pivot 182 and having a lower depending free end portion pivotally engaged with memher 150 as by a pin 184 and with the member 160 as by a pin 186.

As in the case of the form shown in Fig. 1, duplicate linkage systems can be employed on opposite sides of the chair structure although for purposes of simplification of drawing and specification, only one such system is shown and described.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without'departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The combination in a chair construction of, a frame, a back-rest pivoted to said frame to swing rearwardly from sitting to reclining positions, a seat pivoted at its rearward end to said frame for the swinging of its forward end upwardly from sitting to reclining positions, a leg rest structure pivoted to the forward end of said seat for swinging from vertical retracted position adjacent said seat to horizontal extended position forwardly of said seat during the reclining of said seat and back rest, a pantograph linkage for swinging said back rest and seat and leg rest structure including, a supporting lever pivotally connected at its upper end to said frame and having a downwardly depending free end, rearward and forward actuating links having spaced outer end portions and adjacent inner end portions, first separate pivotal connections between the adjacent inner end portions of said actuating links and the free end of said supporting lever locating the inner end portions of said actuating links in vertically spaced side-by-side relation, a control link, second separate pivotal connections between opposite ends of said control link and inner end portions of said actuating links, said control link being spaced from said supporting lever for the purpose of affording conjoint motion to said control link and supporting lever and actuating links, pivotal connections between outer end portions of said actuating links and said back rest and leg rest structure and having a certain center-to-center longitudinal distance in the sitting position of said back rest and seat, all adapted and arranged whereby as said back rest swings to reclining position said leg rest structure is swung upwardly and forwardly of said seat with the movement of said leg rest structure controlling the positioning of said seat through the cooperative movement of said actuating links and said leg rest structure is swung forwardly of said seat and said certain center-to-center longitudinal distance expands and progressively increases the rate of swinging of said leg rest structure relative to the rate of swinging of said back rest.

2. The combination in a chair construction of, a frame, a back-rest pivoted to said frame to swing rearwardly from sitting to reclining positions, a seat pivoted at its rearward end to said frame for the swinging of its forward end upwardly from sitting to reclining positions, a legrest structure pivoted to the forward end of said seat for swinging from vertical retracted position adjacent said seat to horizontal extended position forwardly of said seat during the reclining of said seat and back-rest, a pantograph linkage for swinging said back-rest and seat and leg-rest structure including a supporting lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to said frame and having a free end, rearward and forward actuating links having spaced outer end portions and adjacent inner end portions, first separate pivotal connections between the adjacent inner end portions of said actuating links and the free end of said supporting lever locating the inner end portions of said actuating links in vertically spaced side-byside relation, a control link, second separate pivotal connections between opposite ends of said control link and inner end portions of said actuating links, said control link being spaced from said supporting lever for the purpose of affording conjoint motion to said control link and supporting lever and actuating links, pivotal connections between outer end portions of said actuating links and said back-rest and legrest structure and having a certain center-to-center longitudinal distance in the sitting position of said back-rest and seat, all adapted and arranged whereby as said back-rest swings to reclining position said leg-rest structure is swung upwardly and forwardly of said seat with the movement of said leg-rest structure controlling the positioning of said seat through the cooperative movement of said actuating links and said leg-rest structure is swung forwardly of said seat and said certain center-to-center longitudinal distance expands and progressively increases the rate of swinging of said leg-rest structure relative to the rate of swinging of said back-rest.

3. The combination in a chair construction of, a frame, body supporting elements comprising a back-rest and a seat pivoted to said frame to swing from sitting to reclining positions, a leg-rest structure having pivotal connections to said seat for movement from a retracted position to an extended substantially horizontal position forwardly of said seat during the reclining of said seat and back rest, a pantograph linkage for swinging said backrest and seat and leg-rest structure including a supporting lever pivotally connected to said frame and having a free end, rearward and forward actuating links having spaced outer end portions and adjacent inner end portions, first separate pivotal connections between the adjacent inner end portions of said actuating links and the free end of said supporting lever locating the inner end portions of said actuating links in vertically spaced side-by-side relation, a control link, second separate pivotal connections between opposite ends of said control link and inner end portions of said actuating links, said control link being spaced from said supporting lever for the purpose of affording conjoint motion to said control link and supporting lever and actuating links, connections between outer end portions of said actuating links and said back-rest and leg-rest structure respectively, and having a certain center-to-center longitudinal distance in the sitting position of said back-rest and seat, all adapted and arranged whereby as said back-rest swings to reclining position said leg-rest structure is moved upwardly and forwardly of said seat through the cooperative movement of said actuating links, said certain center-to-center longitudinal distance expands and progressively increases the rate of movement of said leg-rest structure relative to the rate of swinging of said back-rest.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 3, in which the control link is located in rear of the supporting lever and the pivotal connection between the control link and the rearward actuating link is located between the ends of said rearward actuating link and the pivotal connection between the control link and the forward actuating link is adjacent to the rear end of said forward actuating link in rear of the pivotal connection between said forward actuating link and said supporting lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,257 Browne June 12, 1894 2,227,597 Luckhardt et al. Ian. 7, 1941 2,617,470 Lorenz Nov. 11, 1952 2,672,919 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 683,042 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1952 

